West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-02-11

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necessary to constitute an efficient
member of the United States Senate,
that he is utterly wanting in states
manship and mental capacity to,
grasp the great questions constantly
arising before the Senate. And
moreover, We saw in Mr.. Camden
the representative and defender OF
the most gigantic and odious monop-
oily of the age, which has been aptly
called commercial crime" the
Standard Oil Company. As patriots
and Democrats we could not consent
to aid in the second election of such
representative to the United States
Senate. We thought he and his
friends ought to have been more than
satisfied that he had held that high
office for six years, and that they
ought not to force him again upon a
reluctant people. To re elect him I'M
der such circumstances, we believed
would be not only un-Democratic
but dangerous to our free American
institutions. We would not be un-
derstood as intending to impugn the
motives or integrity of any member
who went into caucus. We disclaim
any such intentions. We simply
mean to place on record our condem-
nation of the practice to which we
have alluded and which has been re
sorted to in order to secure Mr.. Cam
denis denomination We think no
caucus should have been held or ct
least no nomination should have
been attempted by caucus un.
til sufficient number had consent
to go into the caucus to be able TO
elect whoever might be nominated.
We are satisfied that Il large major
ity of the Democrats of the State
are opposed to the reelection Of Mr..
Camden, and it is we'll known that
q considerable number of the menu
bers who entered the caucus were
not in favor Of his nomination:
but the workers" for Mr.. Cam
den, by persistent nisrepre-
sentation as to our position.
and intentions, and through 4 mis-
apprehension, rs we believe, on the
part of many of those voters who
were not favorable to Mr.. Camden,
they were induced to record their
votes for him in caucns, it being
part OF the plan of the plan of the
managers to make it appear in this
way that thirty-fvc out Of the fifty
Democrats were for him, when in
fact but for their Misrepresentation
and misapprehensioll he would have
had but a small majority Of the
Democrats of the Legislature, not
withstanding the improper methods
he had used.
Now few words as to our mo-
tive in presenting you the list of
names contained in our former com
Dunication. We are not willing to
vote for Mr.. Camden for the reasons
above briefly set forth. but there are
a number Of good and true Demo
Gratis in the State for whom we think
all the Democrats of the Legislature
can consistently vote for United
States Senator and whose election
would reflect credit on this State and
unite and harmonic the Democratic
party. In perfect good faith we
presented to you number of such
names as occurred to us, in the
hopes that you would meet us in the
spirit of compromise, and that the
result might be the election of some
one satisfactory to all.
"Our action cannot be construed
as debating to the majority, but was
a token simply to show that we are
not seeking to promote our interest,
or the ambition Of any man or set of
men but only what we believe to be
the interest and integrity of the
Democratic party and the good of
our common country.
I'VE are willing to yield our indi-
vidual preferences and we think that
it is neither dictation in us nor is it
asking too much TO request that you
yield TO some extent at least in the
same direction. You have thought
proper to repell our overtures and if
this is final on your part, there is
nothing left us but to maintain our
positions.
THAT position Gaving been taken
after mature reflection and due de-
liberation will be maintained with
oat faltering, feeling sure that our
action will be approved by all true
and thoughtful friends of the Demo
cratic party and our country.
Signed by the twelve.